How should Buddhists treat victims of AIDS? A curious question indeed! Why would our attitude toward another person be dependent upon a status, illness, or circumstance? Does it matter if it is AIDS, cancer, dementia, depression, or disability? If we judge the condition first, we are using it as a filter to judge the person and that is not helpful, it is only cruel. If someone is suffering we should help ease their suffering to the best of our abilities.
Our attitude toward people with AIDS (or cancer, or heart disease, or any other form of suffering) should be based on compassion and service. If they need food or transportation we should assist them. If we can help reduce their suffering we should. If our service is in educating others on how to minimize their risk for heart disease, cancer, or AIDS, we should do that.
Our actions should reflect our humanity and our desire to ease the suffering of others and the causes of suffering. If you judge the person based on the disease, you are only displaying your need to judge and that is harmful. We are at our most noble when we compassionately help those who are suffering.
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